Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Caramel Apple Dip ... seriously?

First off – Big Woo-Hoo shout out to Cleo. Wow!! Espresso Shot hit #3 nationwide! That’s huge!
And well deserved. Congrats, Cleo! I plan to help celebrate by placing Espresso Shot at the top of my TBR pile (which I can’t get to until January at the earliest), and ordering Holiday Grind!

OUR NEW CONTEST: Win a $25 Williams-Sonoma Gift Card! For details on how to enter, simply scroll down and see our contest announcement...


Apples and Halloween just go together so well, don't they? When my husband buys Affy Tapple packages and sets them on the countertop, I know I'm sunk. Can't help myself. Those beauties call my name -- even from other rooms. Healthy? Not so much, except for the apples. Delicious? Oh yeah.

Some time back my eldest daughter told me about a recipe her boyfriend's mother shared with her (Hi, Bonnie!) that I had never heard of before. Talking with friends, it seems an even split. Some people have heard of this, but many, around here at least, have not.

Once I heard how easy this was supposed to be, I knew I had to give it a try. Maybe this is old hat for you, but it's completely new to me.

Halloween is full of scary things, right? Well, the prospect of an exploding can had me terrified, but I promise, everything worked out just great.

Caramel Apple Dip
(seriously?)

Take one can (about 14 oz) of Sweetened Condensed Milk (NOT evaporated milk) and remove the label. Place the can in a deep dutch oven and cover with water. Turn heat on high until water is boiling.


~ You're starting to see why I was skeptical, right?





Boil for 3 -4 hours, making sure the water level never drops below the top of the can (if it does, this is where you run the risk of the can exploding). Add water as necessary to keep levels high.
After 4 hours, remove can from water with tongs, place in fridge to cool.

Open can and you should have some creamy caramel.
Slice apples, chop nuts... serve...
And happy dipping!

In our family we like to point and say, "Isn't this delicious, dip?" That's one of those jokes that was old ten years ago, but we refuse to let die...

Julie

My White House Chef Mystery series includes State of the Onion, Hail to the Chef, and Eggsecutive Orders (coming in January). All from Berkley Prime Crime.

Sign up for my newsletter at http://www.juliehyzy.com/

10 comments:

  1. A perfect Halloween recipe! You've got the fear factor with exploding cans but then end up with delicious, chewy-gooey dip!

    I'm liking Halloween week so far!

    Elizabeth/Riley
    Mystery Writing is Murder

    ReplyDelete
  2. LOL -- I kept such a close eye on that pot, I looked like a paranoid lunatic! But I like the idea. Very clean, very simple. Next time around, I may boil it for a shorter period of time. The caramel came out medium-dark. I'm betting that less boiling time means lighter caramel... I love to experiment...

    Julie

    ReplyDelete
  3. Julie, I knew someone who made her Dulce de Leche this way and ate it every day spread on toast for her breakfast. It's yummy! BTW, I don't think she ever had a can explode!

    ~Krista

    ReplyDelete
  4. I have never heard of this. The dudes and
    I will definitely try it -- a science experiment
    with a caramel reward. Excellent.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I made this for my middle school Spanish class fiesta dinner over 20 years ago. We called it Dulche De Leche and served it over pineapple.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sounds great, but I'd probably forget the can and end up with a caramel kitchen! Cleo, congrats, that's great news! Espresso Shot is on my to buy list, as is Holiday Grind (yep, I'm a little behind).

    ReplyDelete
  7. Julie - First of all, THANK YOU for your amazing shout-out on ES. I think we're both having a pretty good month! Recipe fun: I am so on board with your idea of using the dulche de leche as a dip for apple slices and nuts. Winner!! (My husband is presently munching on a store bought caramel apple. Loves them. I can't wait to surpise him with your version. It's inspired!)

    Shel - Thank you, too. As Mae West said to her bra, I very much appreciate your support! LOL!

    ~Cleo
    Coffeehouse Mystery.com
    "Where Coffee and crime are always brewing..."
    Cleo Coyle on Twitter

    ReplyDelete
  8. Dulce la leche... love it. Sounds so much more elegant than boiled milk in a can LOL! Thanks for that, ladies!

    Hmm... la leche... kinda goes with your Mae West comment, Cleo (sorry, I couldn't resist!)

    Julie

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh, boy! I LOVE Dulce de leche. Haggen Daz ice cream makes a flavor called that and it's to die for. Can't wait to try this!!! And it'll go over ice cream. Sinful!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Julie and Cleo, I have only one word for both of you...GROAN!!!!

    ReplyDelete